KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident during a police chase just before 5a.m. New Year's Day in Kansas City. Missouri.

Independence police officers were pursuing a gray Ford F-250 for multiple alleged traffic violations. While traveling westbound on 9th Street approaching Benton Boulevard in Kansas City, the suspect vehicle failed to stop for a red traffic signal and collided with a blue pickup truck traveling southbound on Benton Boulevard, according to KCPD Captain Jake&nbsp; Becchina.

 The suspect vehicle also struck a silver Nissan Cube that was stopped at the traffic signal facing eastbound. 

Following the collision, the gray Ford F-250 continued and struck a parked RV on private property, becoming immobilized. The driver fled the scene on foot. It was later determined that the Ford F250 was reported stolen. The driver of the blue pickup truck sustained minor injuries. Three occupants of the silver Nissan Cube were transported to a local hospital with critical injuries. On Thursday afternoon, police reported the driver of the Nissan had died.

This incident represents the first traffic fatality this year, compared to none at this time last year.&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident during a police chase just before 5a.m. New Year's Day in Kansas City. Missouri.Independence police officers were pursuing a gray Ford F-250 for multiple alleged traffic violations. While traveling westbound on 9th Street approaching Benton Boulevard in Kansas City, the suspect vehicle failed to stop for a red traffic signal and collided with a blue pickup truck traveling southbound on Benton Boulevard, according to KCPD Captain Jake&nbsp; Becchina. The suspect vehicle also struck a silver Nissan Cube that was stopped at the traffic signal facing eastbound. Following the collision, the gray Ford F-250 continued and struck a parked RV on private property, becoming immobilized. The driver fled the scene on foot. It was later determined that the Ford F250 was reported stolen. The driver of the blue pickup truck sustained minor injuries. Three occupants of the silver Nissan Cube were transported to a local hospital with critical injuries. On Thursday afternoon, police reported the driver of the Nissan had died.This incident represents the first traffic fatality this year, compared to none at this time last year.&nbsp;

KCPD: Driver stopped at traffic signal killed in crash with stolen pickup

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump defended his energy and health in an interview with The Wall Street Journal and disclosed that he had a CT scan, not an MRI scan, during an October examination about which he and the White House delayed offering details.

Trump, in the interview published Thursday, said he regretted undergoing the advanced imaging on his heart and abdomen during an October visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center because it raised public questions about his health. His physician said in a memo the White House released in December that he had “advanced imaging” as a preventative screening for a man his age.

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-mri-physical-white-house-0c66f2f9fca865d842ee94329a210a42">had initially described it as an MRI</a>&nbsp;but said he didn’t know what part of his body he had scanned. A CT scan is a quicker form of diagnostic imaging than an MRI but offers less detail about differences in tissue.

The president’s doctor, Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, said in a statement released Thursday by the White House that Trump underwent the exam in October because he planned to be at Walter Reed to meet people working there. Trump had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-physical-weight-loss-oldest-president-75913b1e114cec64ae0acab1389118b2">already undergone an annual physical in April.</a>

“President Trump agreed to meet with the staff and soldiers at Walter Reed Medical Hospital in October. In order to make the most of the President’s time at the hospital, we recommended he undergo another routine physical evaluation to ensure continued optimal health,” Barbabella said.

Barbabella said he asked the president to undergo either a CT scan or MRI “to definitively rule out any cardiovascular issues” and the results were “perfectly normal and revealed absolutely no abnormalities.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement Thursday that the president’s doctors and the White House have “always maintained the President received advanced imaging” but said that “additional details on the imaging have been disclosed by the President himself” because he “has nothing to hide.”

“In retrospect, it’s too bad I took it because it gave them a little ammunition,” Trump said in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/us-news/as-signs-of-aging-emerge-trump-responds-with-defiance-769c5dcd?st=7vVWU7&amp;reflink=article_copyURL_share" target="_blank">interview with The Wall Street Journal</a>. “I would have been a lot better off if they didn’t, because the fact that I took it said, ‘Oh gee, is something wrong?’ Well, nothing’s wrong.”

The 79-year-old became the oldest person to take the oath of office when he was sworn in as president last year and has been sensitive to questions about his health, particularly as he has repeatedly questioned his predecessor Joe Biden’s fitness for office.

Biden, who turned 82 in the last year of his presidency, was dogged by scrutiny of his age and mental acuity at the end of his tenure and during his abandoned attempt to seek reelection.

But questions have also swirled around Trump’s health this year as he’s been seen with bruising on the back of his right hand that has been conspicuous despite a slathering of makeup on top, along with noticeable swelling at his ankles.

The White House this summer said the president had been diagnosed with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chronic-venous-insufficiency-trump-c2e8884d5e5debd1a0c156cb0060928a">chronic venous insufficiency</a>, a common condition among older adults. The condition happens when veins in the legs can’t properly carry blood back to the heart and it pools in the lower legs.

In the interview, Trump said he briefly tried wearing compression socks to address the swelling but stopped because he didn’t like them.

The bruising on Trump’s hand, according to Leavitt, is from “frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin,” which Trump takes regularly to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

He said he takes more aspirin than his doctors recommend but said he has resisted taking less because he’s been taking it for 25 years and said he is “a little superstitious.” Trump takes 325 milligrams of aspirin daily, according to Barbabella.

“They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart,” Trump said. “I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?”

Trump, in the interview, denied he has fallen asleep during White House meetings&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cabinet-doodle-misspelling-eyes-closed-84df52bbc901a001e98e325155224954">when cameras have caught him with his eyes closed</a>, instead insisting he was resting his eyes or blinking.

“I’ll just close. It’s very relaxing to me,” he said. “Sometimes they’ll take a picture of me blinking, blinking, and they’ll catch me with the blink.”

He said that he’s never slept much at night,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-331632d4847644e1bf1dcbc27e0d3dc1">a habit he also described during his first term</a>, and said he starts his day early in the White House residence before moving to the Oval Office around 10 a.m. and working until 7 p.m. or 8 p.m.

The president dismissed questions about his hearing, saying he only struggled to hear “when there’s a lot of people talking,” and said he has plenty of energy, which he credited to his genes.

“Genetics are very important,” he said. “And I have very good genetics.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1767236086469.png" alt="The President and first lady&nbsp;arrive for the New Year's Eve Celebration at Mar-a-Lago. image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>The President and first lady&nbsp;arrive for the New Year's Eve Celebration at Mar-a-Lago. image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump defended his energy and health in an interview with The Wall Street Journal and disclosed that he had a CT scan, not an MRI scan, during an October examination about which he and the White House delayed offering details.Trump, in the interview published Thursday, said he regretted undergoing the advanced imaging on his heart and abdomen during an October visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center because it raised public questions about his health. His physician said in a memo the White House released in December that he had “advanced imaging” as a preventative screening for a man his age.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1764616418997.png" alt="Letter released Dec. 1 from President Trump's physician" />
 <figcaption>Letter released Dec. 1 from President Trump's physician</figcaption>
 </figure>Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-mri-physical-white-house-0c66f2f9fca865d842ee94329a210a42">had initially described it as an MRI</a>&nbsp;but said he didn’t know what part of his body he had scanned. A CT scan is a quicker form of diagnostic imaging than an MRI but offers less detail about differences in tissue.The president’s doctor, Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, said in a statement released Thursday by the White House that Trump underwent the exam in October because he planned to be at Walter Reed to meet people working there. Trump had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-physical-weight-loss-oldest-president-75913b1e114cec64ae0acab1389118b2">already undergone an annual physical in April.</a>“President Trump agreed to meet with the staff and soldiers at Walter Reed Medical Hospital in October. In order to make the most of the President’s time at the hospital, we recommended he undergo another routine physical evaluation to ensure continued optimal health,” Barbabella said.Barbabella said he asked the president to undergo either a CT scan or MRI “to definitively rule out any cardiovascular issues” and the results were “perfectly normal and revealed absolutely no abnormalities.”White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement Thursday that the president’s doctors and the White House have “always maintained the President received advanced imaging” but said that “additional details on the imaging have been disclosed by the President himself” because he “has nothing to hide.”“In retrospect, it’s too bad I took it because it gave them a little ammunition,” Trump said in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/us-news/as-signs-of-aging-emerge-trump-responds-with-defiance-769c5dcd?st=7vVWU7&amp;reflink=article_copyURL_share" target="_blank">interview with The Wall Street Journal</a>. “I would have been a lot better off if they didn’t, because the fact that I took it said, ‘Oh gee, is something wrong?’ Well, nothing’s wrong.”The 79-year-old became the oldest person to take the oath of office when he was sworn in as president last year and has been sensitive to questions about his health, particularly as he has repeatedly questioned his predecessor Joe Biden’s fitness for office.Biden, who turned 82 in the last year of his presidency, was dogged by scrutiny of his age and mental acuity at the end of his tenure and during his abandoned attempt to seek reelection.But questions have also swirled around Trump’s health this year as he’s been seen with bruising on the back of his right hand that has been conspicuous despite a slathering of makeup on top, along with noticeable swelling at his ankles.The White House this summer said the president had been diagnosed with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chronic-venous-insufficiency-trump-c2e8884d5e5debd1a0c156cb0060928a">chronic venous insufficiency</a>, a common condition among older adults. The condition happens when veins in the legs can’t properly carry blood back to the heart and it pools in the lower legs.In the interview, Trump said he briefly tried wearing compression socks to address the swelling but stopped because he didn’t like them.The bruising on Trump’s hand, according to Leavitt, is from “frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin,” which Trump takes regularly to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.He said he takes more aspirin than his doctors recommend but said he has resisted taking less because he’s been taking it for 25 years and said he is “a little superstitious.” Trump takes 325 milligrams of aspirin daily, according to Barbabella.“They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart,” Trump said. “I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?”Trump, in the interview, denied he has fallen asleep during White House meetings&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cabinet-doodle-misspelling-eyes-closed-84df52bbc901a001e98e325155224954">when cameras have caught him with his eyes closed</a>, instead insisting he was resting his eyes or blinking.“I’ll just close. It’s very relaxing to me,” he said. “Sometimes they’ll take a picture of me blinking, blinking, and they’ll catch me with the blink.”He said that he’s never slept much at night,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-331632d4847644e1bf1dcbc27e0d3dc1">a habit he also described during his first term</a>, and said he starts his day early in the White House residence before moving to the Oval Office around 10 a.m. and working until 7 p.m. or 8 p.m.The president dismissed questions about his hearing, saying he only struggled to hear “when there’s a lot of people talking,” and said he has plenty of energy, which he credited to his genes.“Genetics are very important,” he said. “And I have very good genetics.”

President Trump offers new details on health screening he underwent

KANSAS CITY—One person died in a house fire New Year's Day in Kansas City, Missouri.

Just before 7:30a.m. Thursday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported house fire in the 3200 block of E 52nd Street, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.

&nbsp;On arrival crews reported fire from the 2nd story of a 2-story home.&nbsp;Interior operations were initiated along with a search, and a victim, later confirmed as a 90-year-old man was found inside the structure.

KCPD Bomb and Arson responded to the scene and conducted an investigation due to the fatality and as a part of standard procedure.&nbsp;No other injuries were reported at this incident.&nbsp;The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767304370600.png" alt="Photos KC Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Photos KC Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—One person died in a house fire New Year's Day in Kansas City, Missouri.Just before 7:30a.m. Thursday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported house fire in the 3200 block of E 52nd Street, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767304354377.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;On arrival crews reported fire from the 2nd story of a 2-story home.&nbsp;Interior operations were initiated along with a search, and a victim, later confirmed as a 90-year-old man was found inside the structure.KCPD Bomb and Arson responded to the scene and conducted an investigation due to the fatality and as a part of standard procedure.&nbsp;No other injuries were reported at this incident.&nbsp;The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Body of  man found in Kansas City house fire

JEFFERSON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 10:30p.m. Thursday in Jefferson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 GMC Sierra driven by Ahijah L&nbsp;Adams, 59, Topeka, was westbound on U.S. 24 just north of 5th and Phillips.&nbsp; The driver failed to negotiate a curve. The pickup traveled off the roadway to the left rolled and the driver was ejected.

Adams was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Frontier Forensics. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

JEFFERSON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 10:30p.m. Thursday in Jefferson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 GMC Sierra driven by Ahijah L&nbsp;Adams, 59, Topeka, was westbound on U.S. 24 just north of 5th and Phillips.&nbsp; The driver failed to negotiate a curve. The pickup traveled off the roadway to the left rolled and the driver was ejected.Adams was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Frontier Forensics. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies in pickup rollover accident

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement arrested a wanted burglary suspect after a traffic stop in Jackson County.

Just after 4p.m. December 29, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Chevy S10 pickup truck for an alleged traffic infraction on 150th Road near Q. Road, near Mayetta, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. 

The driver of the vehicle was identified as Jay Rell Kroulik, 46, of Cuba, Kansas. During the course of the traffic stop a probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted, which resulted in the discovery of an open container, and illegal drugs.

Kroulik was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, transporting an open container, and driving while suspended. Kroulik also had an outstanding felony warrant out of Cloud County, for burglary.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1767009352508.png" alt="Kroulik photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Kroulik photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement arrested a wanted burglary suspect after a traffic stop in Jackson County.Just after 4p.m. December 29, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Chevy S10 pickup truck for an alleged traffic infraction on 150th Road near Q. Road, near Mayetta, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Jay Rell Kroulik, 46, of Cuba, Kansas. During the course of the traffic stop a probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted, which resulted in the discovery of an open container, and illegal drugs.Kroulik was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, transporting an open container, and driving while suspended. Kroulik also had an outstanding felony warrant out of Cloud County, for burglary.

Wanted Kan. burglary suspect captured during traffic stop

NEOSHO COUNTY—On Wednesday, the Neosho County Sheriff released additional details and a video of a video of a hit-and-run crash involving a sheriff's deputy.

On December 26,&nbsp;a Neosho County Deputy Sheriff's patrol vehicle was struck. The Deputy was legally parked, off of the roadway on a pasture access, facing east on 160th Road between Kiowa and Jackson Roads.

A west bound vehicle traveled left of center, off the roadway into the ditch. The vehicle launched the culvert and struck the Deputies patrol unit head on. 

Upon being struck, the deputy radioed in the accident and activated the emergency equipment. This causes the in-car camera system to make a recording of approx. 30 seconds before the emergency lights are activated. 

Due to the extensive damage to the patrol unit, the vehicle battery was damaged, and the patrol unit lost enough power to keep the emergency lights going and also failed to upload the video to the cloud storage. 

The video was not able to be retrieved until Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp; There were some individuals who reached out and assisted with leads in the case. Investigators were able to get enough information for a search warrant in Wilson County. The vehicle from the accident was located, the suspect was interviewed and subsequently arrested. 

  Jeremy L. Borton, 48, Buffalo, Ks., was arrested on requested charges of Leaving the Scene, Failure to Report, Driving while Suspended, No Ignition Interlock Device when Required, No Liability Insurance, Aggravated Battery (Reckless). He was transported to the Neosho County Jail. Upon completion of the investigation, reports will be forwarded to the Neosho County Attorney's Office for review.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767303995377.png" alt="Photo Neosho Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Neosho Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>NEOSHO COUNTY—On Wednesday, the Neosho County Sheriff released additional details and a video of a video of a hit-and-run crash involving a sheriff's deputy.On December 26,&nbsp;a Neosho County Deputy Sheriff's patrol vehicle was struck. The Deputy was legally parked, off of the roadway on a pasture access, facing east on 160th Road between Kiowa and Jackson Roads.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=224&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F26243040445281448%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=5" width="560" height="224" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>A west bound vehicle traveled left of center, off the roadway into the ditch. The vehicle launched the culvert and struck the Deputies patrol unit head on. Upon being struck, the deputy radioed in the accident and activated the emergency equipment. This causes the in-car camera system to make a recording of approx. 30 seconds before the emergency lights are activated. Due to the extensive damage to the patrol unit, the vehicle battery was damaged, and the patrol unit lost enough power to keep the emergency lights going and also failed to upload the video to the cloud storage. The video was not able to be retrieved until Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp; There were some individuals who reached out and assisted with leads in the case. Investigators were able to get enough information for a search warrant in Wilson County. The vehicle from the accident was located, the suspect was interviewed and subsequently arrested. Jeremy L. Borton, 48, Buffalo, Ks., was arrested on requested charges of Leaving the Scene, Failure to Report, Driving while Suspended, No Ignition Interlock Device when Required, No Liability Insurance, Aggravated Battery (Reckless). He was transported to the Neosho County Jail. Upon completion of the investigation, reports will be forwarded to the Neosho County Attorney's Office for review.&nbsp;

🎥Driver arrested after hit-and-run crash into Kan. deputy's vehicle

WICHITA, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Wichita Police Department reported to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) that 86-year-old Linda Holle was located in South Dakota, and is now safe.

The statewide silver alert is canceled.&nbsp;

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation issued a statewide silver alert for a missing Kansas woman.

The whereabouts of 86-year-old Linda Holle of Wichita are unknown, and public assistance is requested to help locate her, according to a media release from the KBI.

Holle is likely driving a blue 2007 Ford Expedition bearing Kansas tag 1054ADS.&nbsp; She was last believed to be in St. Joseph, Missouri on Dec. 31, at approximately 11:20 p.m.

Holle is a white female who is around 5-foot-3 inches tall and weighs approximately 170 pounds. She has blonde and gray hair, brown eyes and wears glasses.

If you see Holle, or her vehicle, please call 911 immediately. If you have other information about her whereabouts, please call the Wichita Police Department at (316) 268-4111.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767282639484.png" alt="photo KBI" />
 <figcaption>photo KBI</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Wichita Police Department reported to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) that 86-year-old Linda Holle was located in South Dakota, and is now safe.The statewide silver alert is canceled.&nbsp;----------The Kansas Bureau of Investigation issued a statewide silver alert for a missing Kansas woman.The whereabouts of 86-year-old Linda Holle of Wichita are unknown, and public assistance is requested to help locate her, according to a media release from the KBI.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767284978010.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Holle is likely driving a blue 2007 Ford Expedition bearing Kansas tag 1054ADS.&nbsp; She was last believed to be in St. Joseph, Missouri on Dec. 31, at approximately 11:20 p.m.Holle is a white female who is around 5-foot-3 inches tall and weighs approximately 170 pounds. She has blonde and gray hair, brown eyes and wears glasses.If you see Holle, or her vehicle, please call 911 immediately. If you have other information about her whereabouts, please call the Wichita Police Department at (316) 268-4111.

Silver Alert: Missing Kan. woman found in South Dakota

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a shooting that has left one person dead.

Just before 11p.m. New Year's Eve, officers were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 1200 block of Central Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release from police.

First responders discovered a man with an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

This incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit. Police have not released the name of the victim or possible suspect information.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a shooting that has left one person dead.Just before 11p.m. New Year's Eve, officers were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 1200 block of Central Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release from police.First responders discovered a man with an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.This incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit. Police have not released the name of the victim or possible suspect information.

Homicide: One victim in Kan. shooting on New Year's Eve

FORD COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 7p.m. Wednesday in Ford County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Mercury Montego driven by Shane Glendon&nbsp;Callison, 53, Ingalls, was northbound at&nbsp;10839  County Road 109. The driver lost control of the car. It clipped the westside of the road, struck a fence, rolled and the driver was ejected.&nbsp;

Callison was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

FORD COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 7p.m. Wednesday in Ford County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Mercury Montego driven by Shane Glendon&nbsp;Callison, 53, Ingalls, was northbound at&nbsp;10839 County Road 109. The driver lost control of the car. It clipped the westside of the road, struck a fence, rolled and the driver was ejected.&nbsp;Callison was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after ejected in rollover accident

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Farmers are now learning how much aid they can expect to receive from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-farmers-aid-07328f260d1ebf26c2bfde79b426230e">$12 billion package</a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;announced earlier this month.

<a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/12/31/usda-announces-commodity-payment-rates-farmer-bridge-assistance-program">Click here for more details</a>

The U.S. Department of Agriculture&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/12/31/usda-announces-commodity-payment-rates-farmer-bridge-assistance-program">released the figures</a>&nbsp;Wednesday for how much aid per acre farmers can plan on for each row crop. The details arrived after most farmers have already met with their bankers to arrange financing for next year's crops and placed orders for the seed and fertilizer they will need. But officials have promised that the payments should arrive by the end of February.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/soybeans-trade-tariff-china-united-states-export-025792707c4e4e91d975f8558edae1d8">Soybean farmers</a>&nbsp;have been hit especially hard by Trump's trade war with China, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-donald-trump-tariffs-agriculture-china-d5674c21e240acdc72cde76e474f172a">stopped buying any American crops</a>&nbsp;after Trump announced his tariffs this spring. China is the world's largest buyer of soybeans. This aid package is expected to help farmers weather the trade disruptions until China&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-trump-xi-soybean-farmers-brazil-72ded79cdd71ce61e93337b8984e6f69">buys more soybeans</a>&nbsp;under an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-trump-soybean-farmers-tariffs-trade-war-c532d730dd8c70551df384bc8a3aee76">agreement announced in October</a>&nbsp;and until provisions of Trump's massive budget bill take effect later this year.

Soybean farmers will get $30.88 per acre while corn farmers will receive $44.36 per acre. Another crop hit hard when China stopped buying was sorghum, and those farmers will get $48.11 per acre. The amounts are based on a USDA formula on the cost of production.

Farmers say they need more buyers for their crops

But farmers say the aid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-soybean-farmers-china-trade-tariffs-brazil-9663759ac3c9c7360bd5f23cb84180f0">won't solve all their problems</a>&nbsp;as they continue to deal with the soaring costs of fertilizer, seeds and labor that make it hard to turn a profit right now. Some agricultural trade groups have said they worry that thousands of farmers could go out of business, but others have said they believe most farmers have the financial resources and equity needed to survive.

Kentucky soybean farmer Caleb Ragland, who was president of the American Soybean Association until recently, said the aid is “a Band-Aid on a deep wound. We need competition and opportunities in the market to make our future brighter.”

The President of the National Corn Growers Association Jed Bower also urged the Trump administration to focus on cultivating additional uses for their crops. Farmers will benefit from having more buyers whether it is for ethanol and animal feed at home or for international markets.

“Corn growers have been sounding the alarm about the fact that farmers have been faced with multiple consecutive years of low corn prices and high input costs,” Bower said. “While this financial assistance is helpful and welcomed, we urgently need the administration and Congress to develop markets in the United States and abroad that will provide growers with more long-term economic certainty.”

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said that is the goal and promised to continue working to open new markets while strengthening the safety net for farmers.

Minnesota Soybean Growers Association President Darin Johnson said the aid number for soybeans fell short of what farmers had been hoping for, so more help could be needed, though this package will help.

Most farmers remain steadfast supporters of Trump even after the disruptions caused by the trade war. They generally support many of his other policies and believe they will get a better trade deal in the end.

White House and farmers encouraged by China's purchases

These aid payments will add up to $11 billion for row crop farmers who raise corn, soybeans, wheat, sorghum and other crops. Another $1 billion has been set aside for specialty crops and sugar, but the administration hasn't released any details of aid for those crops.

After Trump met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea in October, the White House said Beijing had promised to buy at least 12 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans by the end of the calendar year, plus 25 million metric tons a year in each of the next three years. Officials have said China is on track to meet the 12 million metric ton goal by the end of February.

As of Dec. 18, China had bought about 6 million metric tons of soybeans, according to the latest USDA’s weekly report. Separately, the federal agency reported that China since then bought at least three more batches totaling 600,000 metric tons.

Beijing has yet to confirm any commitment to buying 12 million metric tons of soybeans for this season, but the Chinese embassy in Washington said earlier this month that “agricultural trade cooperation between China and the United States is proceeding in an orderly manner.”

However, the recent increase in international purchases is encouraging to farmers, said Tim Lust, CEO of the National Sorghum Producers, who has seen more than 1 million metric tons of sorghum purchased in just the past few weeks. Like soybeans, more than half of the sorghum crop is exported each year with China traditionally being the biggest buyer.

The aid payments will be capped at $155,000 per farmer or entity, and only farms that make less than $900,000 in adjusted gross income will be eligible. During the first Trump administration, a number of large farms found ways around the payment limits and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/75df5e7bf56e43df99d091bc4d16a87d">collected millions</a>.

The USDA says&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/ag-and-food-statistics-charting-the-essentials/farming-and-farm-income">the average size</a>&nbsp;of the 1.88 million farms nationwide was 466 acres last year, but many farmers are much larger than that as larger operations have continued to buy up neighboring farms over time.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767278821674.png" alt="Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins in the Oval Office -image White House" />
 <figcaption>Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins in the Oval Office -image White House</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Farmers are now learning how much aid they can expect to receive from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-farmers-aid-07328f260d1ebf26c2bfde79b426230e">$12 billion package</a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;announced earlier this month.<a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/12/31/usda-announces-commodity-payment-rates-farmer-bridge-assistance-program">Click here for more details</a>The U.S. Department of Agriculture&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/12/31/usda-announces-commodity-payment-rates-farmer-bridge-assistance-program">released the figures</a>&nbsp;Wednesday for how much aid per acre farmers can plan on for each row crop. The details arrived after most farmers have already met with their bankers to arrange financing for next year's crops and placed orders for the seed and fertilizer they will need. But officials have promised that the payments should arrive by the end of February.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/soybeans-trade-tariff-china-united-states-export-025792707c4e4e91d975f8558edae1d8">Soybean farmers</a>&nbsp;have been hit especially hard by Trump's trade war with China, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-donald-trump-tariffs-agriculture-china-d5674c21e240acdc72cde76e474f172a">stopped buying any American crops</a>&nbsp;after Trump announced his tariffs this spring. China is the world's largest buyer of soybeans. This aid package is expected to help farmers weather the trade disruptions until China&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-trump-xi-soybean-farmers-brazil-72ded79cdd71ce61e93337b8984e6f69">buys more soybeans</a>&nbsp;under an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-trump-soybean-farmers-tariffs-trade-war-c532d730dd8c70551df384bc8a3aee76">agreement announced in October</a>&nbsp;and until provisions of Trump's massive budget bill take effect later this year.Soybean farmers will get $30.88 per acre while corn farmers will receive $44.36 per acre. Another crop hit hard when China stopped buying was sorghum, and those farmers will get $48.11 per acre. The amounts are based on a USDA formula on the cost of production.<h2>Farmers say they need more buyers for their crops</h2>But farmers say the aid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-soybean-farmers-china-trade-tariffs-brazil-9663759ac3c9c7360bd5f23cb84180f0">won't solve all their problems</a>&nbsp;as they continue to deal with the soaring costs of fertilizer, seeds and labor that make it hard to turn a profit right now. Some agricultural trade groups have said they worry that thousands of farmers could go out of business, but others have said they believe most farmers have the financial resources and equity needed to survive.Kentucky soybean farmer Caleb Ragland, who was president of the American Soybean Association until recently, said the aid is “a Band-Aid on a deep wound. We need competition and opportunities in the market to make our future brighter.”The President of the National Corn Growers Association Jed Bower also urged the Trump administration to focus on cultivating additional uses for their crops. Farmers will benefit from having more buyers whether it is for ethanol and animal feed at home or for international markets.“Corn growers have been sounding the alarm about the fact that farmers have been faced with multiple consecutive years of low corn prices and high input costs,” Bower said. “While this financial assistance is helpful and welcomed, we urgently need the administration and Congress to develop markets in the United States and abroad that will provide growers with more long-term economic certainty.”Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said that is the goal and promised to continue working to open new markets while strengthening the safety net for farmers.Minnesota Soybean Growers Association President Darin Johnson said the aid number for soybeans fell short of what farmers had been hoping for, so more help could be needed, though this package will help.Most farmers remain steadfast supporters of Trump even after the disruptions caused by the trade war. They generally support many of his other policies and believe they will get a better trade deal in the end.<h2>White House and farmers encouraged by China's purchases</h2>These aid payments will add up to $11 billion for row crop farmers who raise corn, soybeans, wheat, sorghum and other crops. Another $1 billion has been set aside for specialty crops and sugar, but the administration hasn't released any details of aid for those crops.After Trump met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea in October, the White House said Beijing had promised to buy at least 12 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans by the end of the calendar year, plus 25 million metric tons a year in each of the next three years. Officials have said China is on track to meet the 12 million metric ton goal by the end of February.As of Dec. 18, China had bought about 6 million metric tons of soybeans, according to the latest USDA’s weekly report. Separately, the federal agency reported that China since then bought at least three more batches totaling 600,000 metric tons.Beijing has yet to confirm any commitment to buying 12 million metric tons of soybeans for this season, but the Chinese embassy in Washington said earlier this month that “agricultural trade cooperation between China and the United States is proceeding in an orderly manner.”However, the recent increase in international purchases is encouraging to farmers, said Tim Lust, CEO of the National Sorghum Producers, who has seen more than 1 million metric tons of sorghum purchased in just the past few weeks. Like soybeans, more than half of the sorghum crop is exported each year with China traditionally being the biggest buyer.The aid payments will be capped at $155,000 per farmer or entity, and only farms that make less than $900,000 in adjusted gross income will be eligible. During the first Trump administration, a number of large farms found ways around the payment limits and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/75df5e7bf56e43df99d091bc4d16a87d">collected millions</a>.The USDA says&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/ag-and-food-statistics-charting-the-essentials/farming-and-farm-income">the average size</a>&nbsp;of the 1.88 million farms nationwide was 466 acres last year, but many farmers are much larger than that as larger operations have continued to buy up neighboring farms over time.

Farmers can now learn how much aid they will get from the Trump administration

RENO COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating three suspects on multiple allegations after a drug bust this week.

On December 29, officers with the Hutchinson Police Department executed a search warrant at a residence in the City of Hutchinson suspected of distributing illegal narcotics, according to a media release.

 During the search, an illegal clandestine lab manufacturing operation was discovered. The Kansas Bureau of Investigations Drug Task Force was requested to assist with the investigation.

As a result of the investigation, Curtis K. Chappel, 42, from Hutchinson, was arrested on requested charges including unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance, distribution of a hallucinogenic, distribution of methamphetamine, possession of cocaine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of psilocybin, possession of a hallucinogenic, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and distribution of drug paraphernalia. Chappel is currently being held at the Reno County Correctional Facility without bond. 

Additionally, Jeremy W. Fundenberger, 47, Hutchinson, was arrested on requested charges of possession of cocaine, possession of a depressant, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Jeff A. Kennedy, 46, Hutchinson, was arrested for possession of a stolen firearm.

During the execution of the search warrant, numerous supplies and equipment used in the manufacturing of illegal narcotics were seized, including over 50 pounds of suspected Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), 25 grams of methamphetamine, 50 grams of marijuana, as well as cocaine and psilocybin mushrooms.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767287777297.png" alt="Kennedy photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Kennedy photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating three suspects on multiple allegations after a drug bust this week.On December 29, officers with the Hutchinson Police Department executed a search warrant at a residence in the City of Hutchinson suspected of distributing illegal narcotics, according to a media release. During the search, an illegal clandestine lab manufacturing operation was discovered. The Kansas Bureau of Investigations Drug Task Force was requested to assist with the investigation.As a result of the investigation, Curtis K. Chappel, 42, from Hutchinson, was arrested on requested charges including unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance, distribution of a hallucinogenic, distribution of methamphetamine, possession of cocaine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of psilocybin, possession of a hallucinogenic, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and distribution of drug paraphernalia. Chappel is currently being held at the Reno County Correctional Facility without bond. Additionally, Jeremy W. Fundenberger, 47, Hutchinson, was arrested on requested charges of possession of cocaine, possession of a depressant, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Jeff A. Kennedy, 46, Hutchinson, was arrested for possession of a stolen firearm.During the execution of the search warrant, numerous supplies and equipment used in the manufacturing of illegal narcotics were seized, including over 50 pounds of suspected Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), 25 grams of methamphetamine, 50 grams of marijuana, as well as cocaine and psilocybin mushrooms.

Police: 3 jailed after Kansas drug lab bust

The nation’s capital&nbsp; is celebrating the transition to a new year in a historic way.

For the first time ever, the Washington Monument was&nbsp; illuminated on all four sides with a large-scale projection light show that began New Year’s Eve. The display kicked off celebrations for America’s 250th birthday.

The nation’s capital&nbsp; is celebrating the transition to a new year in a historic way.For the first time ever, the Washington Monument was&nbsp; illuminated on all four sides with a large-scale projection light show that began New Year’s Eve. The display kicked off celebrations for America’s 250th birthday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">WATCH IN FULL: <a href="https://twitter.com/250Freedom_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@250Freedom_</a> presents &quot;The Illumination of America&quot; at the Washington Monument, celebrating 250 years of the United States of America — and looking forward to our next incredible chapter. GOD BLESS AMERICA! 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/xe5XOzUjmC">pic.twitter.com/xe5XOzUjmC</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2006525083590803664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">NOW on the National Mall: <a href="https://twitter.com/250Freedom_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@250Freedom_</a> presents &quot;The Illumination of America,&quot; kicking off the 250th birthday year of our great country 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/uV1ndQVVgw">pic.twitter.com/uV1ndQVVgw</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2006518231264006370?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;The pioneer spirit of the American People brought us across oceans, established a nation in liberty, drew us across a continent, and raised us into the clouds... We&#39;re the United States of America — there is no frontier too far, no dream too bold, no horizon beyond our reach.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/yZpsUvfPIP">pic.twitter.com/yZpsUvfPIP</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2006523469249630607?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥 DC light show kicked off America's 250th birthday 

SEDGWICK COUNTY. -&nbsp;Wichita police, with help from the Kansas Highway Patrol and the U.S. Marshals Service, arrested a man wanted on federal and state warrants after a pursuit Tuesday.

Just after 2p.m., officers spotted the man identified on county booking records as 37-year-old Erik Harper, driving a stolen 2004 GMC Sierra near East Central Avenue and North Oliver Avenue in Wichita, according to a media release from police.

 Harper was wanted on a federal warrant and a felony state warrant for aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault. Officers followed the truck and requested assistance from the KHP Air Support Unit.

A Kansas Highway Patrol unit equipped with a grappler attempted a traffic stop near East Central Avenue and North Edgemoor Street. The grappler was deployed to prevent the suspect vehicle from fleeing, but the suspect escaped. Shortly afterward, the suspect’s vehicle collided with a 2024 Subaru Impreza in the westbound lanes near the 6800 block of East Central Avenue.

Officers took Harper into custody at 4:53 p.m.

The Subaru’s occupants, a 72-year-old man and a 66-year-old woman, were taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Harper was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail. The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for charging.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1767216017214.png" alt="Harper photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Harper photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY. -&nbsp;Wichita police, with help from the Kansas Highway Patrol and the U.S. Marshals Service, arrested a man wanted on federal and state warrants after a pursuit Tuesday.Just after 2p.m., officers spotted the man identified on county booking records as 37-year-old Erik Harper, driving a stolen 2004 GMC Sierra near East Central Avenue and North Oliver Avenue in Wichita, according to a media release from police. Harper was wanted on a federal warrant and a felony state warrant for aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault. Officers followed the truck and requested assistance from the KHP Air Support Unit.A Kansas Highway Patrol unit equipped with a grappler attempted a traffic stop near East Central Avenue and North Edgemoor Street. The grappler was deployed to prevent the suspect vehicle from fleeing, but the suspect escaped. Shortly afterward, the suspect’s vehicle collided with a 2024 Subaru Impreza in the westbound lanes near the 6800 block of East Central Avenue.Officers took Harper into custody at 4:53 p.m.The Subaru’s occupants, a 72-year-old man and a 66-year-old woman, were taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries.Harper was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail. The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for charging.

Kan. man wanted on federal warrant captured after pursuit, crash

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/charlotte-kramon">CHARLOTTE KRAMON</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/sarah-brumfield">SARAH BRUMFIELD</a>

The Trump administration has said it is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-child-care-funds-fraud-b511941de10f02fbb7349eff6738f748">freezing child care funds</a>&nbsp;to all states until they provide more verification about the programs in a move fueled by a series of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-fraud-immigration-enforcement-somali-76e246b70d582f1dd42f1242cf7d7a66">fraud schemes</a>&nbsp;at Minnesota day care centers run by Somali residents.

All 50 states will be impacted by the review, but the Republican administration is focusing most of its ire on the blue state of Minnesota and is calling for an audit of some of its centers.

Minnesota Democratic Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a statement Wednesday that he was “exploring all our legal options to ensure that critical childcare services do not get abruptly slashed based on pretext and grandstanding.”

It is unclear how much more robust the verification process for states will be than it already has been.

Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Jim O’Neill called the decision a response to “blatant fraud that appears to be rampant in Minnesota and across the country” in a social media post announcing the change on Tuesday.

Here are some things to know about these moves:

More verification needed for all states to get child care funds

All 50 states will have to provide additional levels of verification and administrative data before they receive more funding from the Child Care and Development Fund, according to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson. However, Minnesota will have to provide even more verification for child care centers that are suspected of fraud, such as attendance and licensing records, past enforcement actions and inspection reports.

In his social media post on Tuesday, O’Neill said all Administration for Children and Families payments nationwide would require “justification and a receipt or photo evidence” before money is sent, but the HHS spokesperson said Wednesday that the additional verifications only apply to CCDF payments.

Walz says Trump is politicizing the issue

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee, said in a social media post that fraudsters are a serious issue that the state has spent years cracking down on but that this is a political move that is part of “Trump’s long game.”

State Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy condemned the move in a statement Wednesday.

“Republicans are playing sick games and winning devastating prizes,” Murphy said. “And now, tens of thousands of Minnesota families will pay the price as Donald’s Trump’s agents strip away crucial funding.”

Fraud investigations could stretch to other programs, states

The administration launched efforts in recent weeks to track down fraud in other programs in Minnesota and is looking at fraud in blue states such as California and New York, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in an interview with “Fox &amp; Friends” on Wednesday.

The administration will continue to send officers to investigate “potential fraud sites” in Minnesota and deport undocumented immigrants, Leavitt said, adding that the Department of Homeland Security is considering plans to denaturalize citizens.

The Department of Labor is also investigating the state’s unemployment insurance program, Leavitt said. The administration this month threatened to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/food-aid-snap-rollins-blue-states-edf7a10ab409fe471ae81a13823484ab">withhold SNAP food</a>&nbsp;aid funding from Democratic-controlled states, including Minnesota, unless they provide information about people receiving assistance.

The announcement came a day after U.S. Homeland Security officials conducted a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-minnesota-ice-immigration-noem-fraud-investigation-5f97cefc9adf9c0d14a90762dca3cfc8">fraud investigation</a>&nbsp;in Minneapolis, questioning workers at unidentified businesses. Trump has criticized Walz’s administration over the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-fraud-charges-fbad68312012dc02a4060852474f72ee">cases</a>, capitalizing on them to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/somalia-trump-immigration-explainer-f5155ea29c22441b6507e999b574e136">target the Somali diaspora</a>&nbsp;in the state, which has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/somalis-minnesota-trump-immigration-5b772dfcf1b342693f12083779247359">the largest Somali population</a>&nbsp;in the U.S.

In his post Tuesday, O’Neill, who is serving as acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, referenced a right-wing influencer who posted a video last week claiming he found that day care centers operated by Somali residents in Minneapolis had committed up to $100 million in fraud.

Meanwhile, there are concerns about harassment that home-based day care providers and members of the Somali community nationwide might face amid the vitriol, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-garbage-somalia-minneapolis-immigrant-omar-03e31bba53519d8a39b419679a3b75d9">Trump’s comments earlier this month referring to Somali immigrants as “garbage.”</a>&nbsp;Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown released a statement saying, “Showing up on someone’s porch, threatening, or harassing them isn’t an investigation. Neither is filming minors who may be in the home.”

Maria Snider, director of the Rainbow Child Development Center and vice president of advocacy group Minnesota Child Care Association, said fear is rising among both families — many of which are living paycheck to paycheck — and child care centers that rely on the federal funding. Without child care system tuition, centers may have to lay off teachers and shut down classrooms, she said.

In Minnesota, the application process for the funding is complex and multilayered, Snider said. Her own child care center has been subjected to random audits, she said, and all centers are required to submit to licensing visits by officials.

“I don’t know what else I would provide,” she said.

Ahmed Hasan, director of the ABC Learning Center that was one of those featured in the video by the right-wing influencer, said on Wednesday that there were 56 children enrolled at the center. Since the video was posted, Hasan, who is Somali, said his center has received harassing phone calls making staff members and parents feel unsafe.

He said the center is routinely subject to checks by state regulators to ensure they remain in compliance with their license.

“There’s no fraud happening here,” Hasan told The Associated Press. “We are open every day, and we have our records to show that this place is open.”

Kramon reported from Atlanta and Brumfield reported from Cockeysville, Maryland. AP Writers Mark Vancleave contributed from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Margery Beck contributed from Omaha, Nebraska.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1767093694484.png" alt="DHS agents going door to door investigating fraud in Minnesota -image from Homeland Security video" />
 <figcaption>DHS agents going door to door investigating fraud in Minnesota -image from Homeland Security video</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/charlotte-kramon">CHARLOTTE KRAMON</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/sarah-brumfield">SARAH BRUMFIELD</a>The Trump administration has said it is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-child-care-funds-fraud-b511941de10f02fbb7349eff6738f748">freezing child care funds</a>&nbsp;to all states until they provide more verification about the programs in a move fueled by a series of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-fraud-immigration-enforcement-somali-76e246b70d582f1dd42f1242cf7d7a66">fraud schemes</a>&nbsp;at Minnesota day care centers run by Somali residents.All 50 states will be impacted by the review, but the Republican administration is focusing most of its ire on the blue state of Minnesota and is calling for an audit of some of its centers.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We have frozen all child care payments to the state of Minnesota. You have probably read the serious allegations that the state of Minnesota has funneled millions of taxpayer dollars to fraudulent daycares across Minnesota over the past decade. Today we have taken three actions… <a href="https://t.co/VYbyf3WGop">pic.twitter.com/VYbyf3WGop</a>&mdash; Deputy Secretary Jim O&#39;Neill (@HHS_Jim) <a href="https://twitter.com/HHS_Jim/status/2006136004294664464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Minnesota Democratic Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a statement Wednesday that he was “exploring all our legal options to ensure that critical childcare services do not get abruptly slashed based on pretext and grandstanding.”It is unclear how much more robust the verification process for states will be than it already has been.Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Jim O’Neill called the decision a response to “blatant fraud that appears to be rampant in Minnesota and across the country” in a social media post announcing the change on Tuesday.Here are some things to know about these moves:<h2>More verification needed for all states to get child care funds</h2>All 50 states will have to provide additional levels of verification and administrative data before they receive more funding from the Child Care and Development Fund, according to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson. However, Minnesota will have to provide even more verification for child care centers that are suspected of fraud, such as attendance and licensing records, past enforcement actions and inspection reports.In his social media post on Tuesday, O’Neill said all Administration for Children and Families payments nationwide would require “justification and a receipt or photo evidence” before money is sent, but the HHS spokesperson said Wednesday that the additional verifications only apply to CCDF payments.<h2>Walz says Trump is politicizing the issue</h2>Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee, said in a social media post that fraudsters are a serious issue that the state has spent years cracking down on but that this is a political move that is part of “Trump’s long game.”State Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy condemned the move in a statement Wednesday.“Republicans are playing sick games and winning devastating prizes,” Murphy said. “And now, tens of thousands of Minnesota families will pay the price as Donald’s Trump’s agents strip away crucial funding.”<h2>Fraud investigations could stretch to other programs, states</h2>The administration launched efforts in recent weeks to track down fraud in other programs in Minnesota and is looking at fraud in blue states such as California and New York, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in an interview with “Fox &amp; Friends” on Wednesday.The administration will continue to send officers to investigate “potential fraud sites” in Minnesota and deport undocumented immigrants, Leavitt said, adding that the Department of Homeland Security is considering plans to denaturalize citizens.The Department of Labor is also investigating the state’s unemployment insurance program, Leavitt said. The administration this month threatened to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/food-aid-snap-rollins-blue-states-edf7a10ab409fe471ae81a13823484ab">withhold SNAP food</a>&nbsp;aid funding from Democratic-controlled states, including Minnesota, unless they provide information about people receiving assistance.<h2>Attention focused on Minnesota</h2>The announcement came a day after U.S. Homeland Security officials conducted a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-minnesota-ice-immigration-noem-fraud-investigation-5f97cefc9adf9c0d14a90762dca3cfc8">fraud investigation</a>&nbsp;in Minneapolis, questioning workers at unidentified businesses. Trump has criticized Walz’s administration over the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-fraud-charges-fbad68312012dc02a4060852474f72ee">cases</a>, capitalizing on them to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/somalia-trump-immigration-explainer-f5155ea29c22441b6507e999b574e136">target the Somali diaspora</a>&nbsp;in the state, which has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/somalis-minnesota-trump-immigration-5b772dfcf1b342693f12083779247359">the largest Somali population</a>&nbsp;in the U.S.In his post Tuesday, O’Neill, who is serving as acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, referenced a right-wing influencer who posted a video last week claiming he found that day care centers operated by Somali residents in Minneapolis had committed up to $100 million in fraud.Meanwhile, there are concerns about harassment that home-based day care providers and members of the Somali community nationwide might face amid the vitriol, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-garbage-somalia-minneapolis-immigrant-omar-03e31bba53519d8a39b419679a3b75d9">Trump’s comments earlier this month referring to Somali immigrants as “garbage.”</a>&nbsp;Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown released a statement saying, “Showing up on someone’s porch, threatening, or harassing them isn’t an investigation. Neither is filming minors who may be in the home.”<h2>Minnesota child care centers are alarmed</h2>Maria Snider, director of the Rainbow Child Development Center and vice president of advocacy group Minnesota Child Care Association, said fear is rising among both families — many of which are living paycheck to paycheck — and child care centers that rely on the federal funding. Without child care system tuition, centers may have to lay off teachers and shut down classrooms, she said.In Minnesota, the application process for the funding is complex and multilayered, Snider said. Her own child care center has been subjected to random audits, she said, and all centers are required to submit to licensing visits by officials.“I don’t know what else I would provide,” she said.Ahmed Hasan, director of the ABC Learning Center that was one of those featured in the video by the right-wing influencer, said on Wednesday that there were 56 children enrolled at the center. Since the video was posted, Hasan, who is Somali, said his center has received harassing phone calls making staff members and parents feel unsafe.He said the center is routinely subject to checks by state regulators to ensure they remain in compliance with their license.“There’s no fraud happening here,” Hasan told The Associated Press. “We are open every day, and we have our records to show that this place is open.”—-Kramon reported from Atlanta and Brumfield reported from Cockeysville, Maryland. AP Writers Mark Vancleave contributed from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Margery Beck contributed from Omaha, Nebraska.

HHS to freeze future child care funding for Kansas and beyond

On Dec. 30, at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted kinetic strikes against three narco-trafficking vessels traveling as a convoy.

These vessels were operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and had transferred narcotics between the three vessels prior to the strikes. Three narco-terrorists aboard the first vessel were killed in the first engagement. The remaining narco-terrorists abandoned the other two vessels, jumping overboard and distancing themselves before follow-on engagements sank their respective vessels. Following the engagements, the U.S. Southern Command immediately notified the Coast Guard to activate the Search and Rescue system.

On Dec. 31, at the direction of&nbsp; Secretary Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations.

Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and engaged in narco-trafficking. A total of five narco-terrorists were killed during these actions - three in the first vessel and two in the second

On Dec. 30, at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted kinetic strikes against three narco-trafficking vessels traveling as a convoy.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">On Dec. 30, at the direction of <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecWar</a> Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted kinetic strikes against three narco-trafficking vessels traveling as a convoy. These vessels were operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence… <a href="https://t.co/NHRNIzcrFS">pic.twitter.com/NHRNIzcrFS</a>&mdash; U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/Southcom/status/2006474817076330557?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>These vessels were operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and had transferred narcotics between the three vessels prior to the strikes. Three narco-terrorists aboard the first vessel were killed in the first engagement. The remaining narco-terrorists abandoned the other two vessels, jumping overboard and distancing themselves before follow-on engagements sank their respective vessels. Following the engagements, the U.S. Southern Command immediately notified the Coast Guard to activate the Search and Rescue system.On Dec. 31, at the direction of&nbsp; Secretary Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">On Dec. 31, at the direction of <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecWar</a> Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and… <a href="https://t.co/4AE5u4cEff">pic.twitter.com/4AE5u4cEff</a>&mdash; U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/Southcom/status/2006531145844867143?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and engaged in narco-trafficking. A total of five narco-terrorists were killed during these actions - three in the first vessel and two in the second

🎥US military strikes more drug boats killing 8 'narco-terrorists'

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man accused in connection with a violent attack on Christmas Eve remains jailed after a court appearance on Tuesday

A judge charged 43-year-old Jason Eastburn of Wichita with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, criminal damage to property, aggravated battery, aggravated endangering a child and criminal threat, according to online jail records.

Eastburn is accused of hitting a woman with a hammer at a home at&nbsp;7237 E 24th Street in Wichita, according to police. He remains jailed on a $2 million bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1767190164115.png" alt="Eastburn photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Eastburn photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man accused in connection with a violent attack on Christmas Eve remains jailed after a court appearance on TuesdayA judge charged 43-year-old Jason Eastburn of Wichita with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, criminal damage to property, aggravated battery, aggravated endangering a child and criminal threat, according to online jail records.Eastburn is accused of hitting a woman with a hammer at a home at&nbsp;7237 E 24th Street in Wichita, according to police. He remains jailed on a $2 million bond.

Kansas man accused of Christmas Eve hammer attack

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he’s dropping — for now — his push to deploy National Guard troops in Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon, a move that comes after legal roadblocks hung up the effort.

Trump said in a social media post Wednesday that he’s removing the Guard troops for now. “We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again - Only a question of time!” he wrote.

Troops had already left Los Angeles after the president deployed them earlier this year as part of a broader crackdown on crime and immigration. They had been sent to Chicago and Portland but were never on the streets as legal challenges played out.

The president has made a crackdown on crime in cities&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crime-cities-central-park-five-88b8ee178bf22e91ba205b32c458d060">a centerpiece of his second term</a>&nbsp;— and has toyed with the idea of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/trump-says-hes-open-to-invoking-the-insurrection-act-if-necessary-d374093d6436410f993c2f10b140277a">invoking the Insurrection Act</a>&nbsp;to stop his opponents from using the courts to block his plans.

He has said he sees his tough-on-crime approach as a winning political issue ahead of next year’s midterm elections.

In November, U.S. Northern Command had said it was ”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-portland-chicago-los-angeles-cd6e585615422461d7088b8ed04bb974">shifting and/or rightsizing</a>&nbsp;″ operations in Portland, Chicago and Los Angeles, but there would be a “constant, enduring and long-term presence in each city.”

Trump’s push to deploy the troops in Democrat-led cities has been met with legal challenges at nearly every turn.

The Supreme Court in December refused to allow the Trump administration to deploy National Guard troops in the Chicago area as part of its crackdown on immigration. The order was not a final ruling but was a significant and rare setback by the high court for the president’s efforts.

In the nation’s capital, District of Columbia Attorney General&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-dc-trump-federal-takeover-national-guard-lawsuit-f2f76ef685676ee0d3bbd81496c74f2e">Brian Schwalb</a>&nbsp;sued to halt the deployments of more than 2,000 guardsmen.

Hundreds of troops from California and Oregon were deployed to Portland, but a federal judge barred them from going on the streets. A judge permanently blocked&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-portland-oregon-national-guard-governor-416b40b480f51baa68a587a0c1fdb54c">the deployment of National Guard troops there</a>&nbsp;in November after a three-day trial.

California National Guard troops were removed from the streets of Los Angeles by Dec. 15 after a court ruling. But an appeals court had paused a separate part of the order that required control of the Guard to return to Gov. Gavin Newsom.

In a Tuesday court filing, the Trump administration said it was no longer seeking a pause in that part of the order. That paves the way for the California National Guard troops to fully return to state control after Trump federalized the Guard in June.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta called the development a “major litigation victory” in a press release Wednesday.

“For six months, California National Guard troops have been used as political pawns by a President desperate to be king,” Bonta said. “There is a reason our founders decided military and civilian affairs must be kept separate; a reason that our military is, by design, apolitical.”

Trump also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-memphis-national-guard-deployment-crime-washington-f678a17a66d3e49b2f67930a6ea70e6b">ordered the deployment</a>&nbsp;of the Tennessee National Guard to Memphis in September to combat crime, a move supported by the state’s Republican Gov. Bill Lee and senators. A Tennessee judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/memphis-national-guard-trump-88524219125b811fe6f558cdbc870dee">blocked</a>&nbsp;the use of the Guard, siding with Democratic state and local officials who sued.

Associated Press writer Jaimie Ding in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1767221315688.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he’s dropping — for now — his push to deploy National Guard troops in Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon, a move that comes after legal roadblocks hung up the effort.Trump said in a social media post Wednesday that he’s removing the Guard troops for now. “We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again - Only a question of time!” he wrote.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750413132016.jpeg" alt="File California National Guard stand in formation guarding the federal building in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)" />
 <figcaption>File California National Guard stand in formation guarding the federal building in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)</figcaption>
 </figure>Troops had already left Los Angeles after the president deployed them earlier this year as part of a broader crackdown on crime and immigration. They had been sent to Chicago and Portland but were never on the streets as legal challenges played out.The president has made a crackdown on crime in cities&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crime-cities-central-park-five-88b8ee178bf22e91ba205b32c458d060">a centerpiece of his second term</a>&nbsp;— and has toyed with the idea of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/trump-says-hes-open-to-invoking-the-insurrection-act-if-necessary-d374093d6436410f993c2f10b140277a">invoking the Insurrection Act</a>&nbsp;to stop his opponents from using the courts to block his plans.He has said he sees his tough-on-crime approach as a winning political issue ahead of next year’s midterm elections.In November, U.S. Northern Command had said it was ”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-portland-chicago-los-angeles-cd6e585615422461d7088b8ed04bb974">shifting and/or rightsizing</a>&nbsp;″ operations in Portland, Chicago and Los Angeles, but there would be a “constant, enduring and long-term presence in each city.”Trump’s push to deploy the troops in Democrat-led cities has been met with legal challenges at nearly every turn.The Supreme Court in December refused to allow the Trump administration to deploy National Guard troops in the Chicago area as part of its crackdown on immigration. The order was not a final ruling but was a significant and rare setback by the high court for the president’s efforts.In the nation’s capital, District of Columbia Attorney General&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-dc-trump-federal-takeover-national-guard-lawsuit-f2f76ef685676ee0d3bbd81496c74f2e">Brian Schwalb</a>&nbsp;sued to halt the deployments of more than 2,000 guardsmen.Hundreds of troops from California and Oregon were deployed to Portland, but a federal judge barred them from going on the streets. A judge permanently blocked&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-portland-oregon-national-guard-governor-416b40b480f51baa68a587a0c1fdb54c">the deployment of National Guard troops there</a>&nbsp;in November after a three-day trial.California National Guard troops were removed from the streets of Los Angeles by Dec. 15 after a court ruling. But an appeals court had paused a separate part of the order that required control of the Guard to return to Gov. Gavin Newsom.In a Tuesday court filing, the Trump administration said it was no longer seeking a pause in that part of the order. That paves the way for the California National Guard troops to fully return to state control after Trump federalized the Guard in June.California Attorney General Rob Bonta called the development a “major litigation victory” in a press release Wednesday.“For six months, California National Guard troops have been used as political pawns by a President desperate to be king,” Bonta said. “There is a reason our founders decided military and civilian affairs must be kept separate; a reason that our military is, by design, apolitical.”Trump also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-memphis-national-guard-deployment-crime-washington-f678a17a66d3e49b2f67930a6ea70e6b">ordered the deployment</a>&nbsp;of the Tennessee National Guard to Memphis in September to combat crime, a move supported by the state’s Republican Gov. Bill Lee and senators. A Tennessee judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/memphis-national-guard-trump-88524219125b811fe6f558cdbc870dee">blocked</a>&nbsp;the use of the Guard, siding with Democratic state and local officials who sued.___Associated Press writer Jaimie Ding in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

Trump ends National Guard deployment in 3 cities after Supreme Court loss

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/john-seewer">JOHN SEEWER</a> Associated Press

Why let New York City have all the fun with its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/times-square-new-years-eve-ball-test-ffc39fae74a728a384fdafc4cb3bf0db">Times Square ball drop</a>&nbsp;on New Year’s Eve?

Dozens of places across the U.S. will ring in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/the-2-0-2-6-numerals-arrive-in-times-square-ahead-of-the-new-years-eve-ball-drop-181fd52d0bb84098bda2b73673bb6921">2026</a>&nbsp;by dropping a quirky assortment of fruits, vegetables, sea creatures and balls of all shapes and sizes.

There’s the giant cheese wedge in Plymouth, Wisconsin, a chile pepper in Las Cruces, New Mexico, a pinecone in Flagstaff, Arizona, and a conch shell in Key West, Florida.

Pennsylvania is home to a bonanza of bizarre New Year’s Eve events — the bologna drop in Lebanon, the pickle drop in Dillsburg and the potato chip drop in Lewistown.

It’s a New Year’s tradition that goes back to 1907 when a 700-pound (318-kilogram) ball measuring five feet (1.5 meters) in diameter debuted in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-years-eve-confetti-times-square-6357d75281232756e5a9016ac2cdeb3c">Times Square</a>. Copycat celebrations have surged coast to coast over the past few decades and around the beginning of the new millennium.

Here’s a look at some of those events around the nation:

It’s said in some cultures that eating fruit on New Year’s Eve brings luck and wealth. Perhaps that’s why many cities mix fruit into their celebrations. Miami has its “Big Orange” drop, while Sarasota, Florida, features a pineapple. There are cherry drops in Milwaukie, Oregon, and Traverse City, Michigan. Brightly lit grapes plunge from above in Temecula, California. Atlanta this year is replacing its peach drop with a “digital drone peach in the sky.”

It’s tough to beat ringing in the year while watching a pair of sparkly flip-flops diving into Folly Beach, South Carolina. In Panama City Beach, Florida, there’s an evening-long bash where 15,000 beach balls are dropped above revelers just hours before a giant beach ball descends a tower at midnight.

What could be better than seeing a 600-pound (272 kilograms) MoonPie make a 60-second descent in Mobile, Alabama? How about getting a slice of MoonPie cake at the city’s biggest event of the year? Not sweet enough? Check out the 400-pound (181 kilograms)&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/peeps-easter-candy-marshmallow-love-hate-5712b5cad525a0da50622ff8f8c86b73">yellow Peep chick</a>&nbsp;that drops into Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Waterfront cities celebrate the sea on New Year’s Eve. Brunswick, Georgia, has the shrimp drop, while Easton, Maryland, serves up its annual crab drop. The oyster drop is the main event in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The biggest catch might be in Port Clinton, Ohio, along Lake Erie, home to a 600-pound (272-kilogram) walleye named Wylie. The original papier-mache version debuted 30 years ago and has given way to a menacing fiberglass fish.

There’s definitely a food theme to these New Year’s drops. Just outside Chicago, watch out for a 10-foot (3 meters) pierogi in Whiting, Indiana. The Idaho Potato Drop in Boise has been going for more than a decade, and Mt. Olive, North Carolina, celebrates its hometown pickle brand by dropping a glittery green pickle that’s close to 6 feet (1.8 meters) long.

All of these events are meant to be fun, boost civic pride and attract tourists. But one created such a stir that it ended up in court. Residents in western North Carolina no longer lower a live possum inside a glass box at midnight, calling off the event in 2019 after years of protests and legal challenges. There is still a possum drop in Tallapoosa, Georgia, which was long ago known as Possum Snout. That one, though, stars a stuffed possum named Spencer.

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/john-seewer">JOHN SEEWER</a> Associated PressWhy let New York City have all the fun with its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/times-square-new-years-eve-ball-test-ffc39fae74a728a384fdafc4cb3bf0db">Times Square ball drop</a>&nbsp;on New Year’s Eve?Dozens of places across the U.S. will ring in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/the-2-0-2-6-numerals-arrive-in-times-square-ahead-of-the-new-years-eve-ball-drop-181fd52d0bb84098bda2b73673bb6921">2026</a>&nbsp;by dropping a quirky assortment of fruits, vegetables, sea creatures and balls of all shapes and sizes.Many have a hometown flair.There’s the giant cheese wedge in Plymouth, Wisconsin, a chile pepper in Las Cruces, New Mexico, a pinecone in Flagstaff, Arizona, and a conch shell in Key West, Florida.Pennsylvania is home to a bonanza of bizarre New Year’s Eve events — the bologna drop in Lebanon, the pickle drop in Dillsburg and the potato chip drop in Lewistown.It’s a New Year’s tradition that goes back to 1907 when a 700-pound (318-kilogram) ball measuring five feet (1.5 meters) in diameter debuted in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-years-eve-confetti-times-square-6357d75281232756e5a9016ac2cdeb3c">Times Square</a>. Copycat celebrations have surged coast to coast over the past few decades and around the beginning of the new millennium.Here’s a look at some of those events around the nation:<h2>Fruity traditions on New Year’s Eve</h2>It’s said in some cultures that eating fruit on New Year’s Eve brings luck and wealth. Perhaps that’s why many cities mix fruit into their celebrations. Miami has its “Big Orange” drop, while Sarasota, Florida, features a pineapple. There are cherry drops in Milwaukie, Oregon, and Traverse City, Michigan. Brightly lit grapes plunge from above in Temecula, California. Atlanta this year is replacing its peach drop with a “digital drone peach in the sky.”<h2>Beach balls and flip-flops</h2>It’s tough to beat ringing in the year while watching a pair of sparkly flip-flops diving into Folly Beach, South Carolina. In Panama City Beach, Florida, there’s an evening-long bash where 15,000 beach balls are dropped above revelers just hours before a giant beach ball descends a tower at midnight.<h2>MoonPies and a giant Peep</h2>What could be better than seeing a 600-pound (272 kilograms) MoonPie make a 60-second descent in Mobile, Alabama? How about getting a slice of MoonPie cake at the city’s biggest event of the year? Not sweet enough? Check out the 400-pound (181 kilograms)&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/peeps-easter-candy-marshmallow-love-hate-5712b5cad525a0da50622ff8f8c86b73">yellow Peep chick</a>&nbsp;that drops into Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.<h2>Seafood smorgasbord</h2>Waterfront cities celebrate the sea on New Year’s Eve. Brunswick, Georgia, has the shrimp drop, while Easton, Maryland, serves up its annual crab drop. The oyster drop is the main event in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The biggest catch might be in Port Clinton, Ohio, along Lake Erie, home to a 600-pound (272-kilogram) walleye named Wylie. The original papier-mache version debuted 30 years ago and has given way to a menacing fiberglass fish.<h2>Potatoes and pierogies</h2>There’s definitely a food theme to these New Year’s drops. Just outside Chicago, watch out for a 10-foot (3 meters) pierogi in Whiting, Indiana. The Idaho Potato Drop in Boise has been going for more than a decade, and Mt. Olive, North Carolina, celebrates its hometown pickle brand by dropping a glittery green pickle that’s close to 6 feet (1.8 meters) long.<h2>Possum drop lives on</h2>All of these events are meant to be fun, boost civic pride and attract tourists. But one created such a stir that it ended up in court. Residents in western North Carolina no longer lower a live possum inside a glass box at midnight, calling off the event in 2019 after years of protests and legal challenges. There is still a possum drop in Tallapoosa, Georgia, which was long ago known as Possum Snout. That one, though, stars a stuffed possum named Spencer.

Where are the wackiest New Year’s Eve drops in the US?

ST. LOUIS COUNTY —A Kansas man died in an accident just before 10:30p.m. Tuesday in St. Louis County, Missouri.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Ford Explorer driven by a 39-year-old St. Louis woman who was westbound on Interstate 70 at MO 115.

The SUV s truck a pedestrian identified as a 40-year-old Topeka, Kansas, man. Fire personnel pronounced the him deceased just before 11p.m. The SUV driver was not injured and properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY —A Kansas man died in an accident just before 10:30p.m. Tuesday in St. Louis County, Missouri.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Ford Explorer driven by a 39-year-old St. Louis woman who was westbound on Interstate 70 at MO 115.The SUV s truck a pedestrian identified as a 40-year-old Topeka, Kansas, man. Fire personnel pronounced the him deceased just before 11p.m. The SUV driver was not injured and properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Kansas man dies after struck by SUV on I-70

From Pope Francis to Charlie Kirk, many deaths in 2025 had a wide impact

MANHATTAN, KAN. – The Riley County Police Department arrested three individuals on drug-related charges following the execution of two search warrants on Tuesday, stemming from an ongoing investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664309962436.png" alt="Photo DEA" />
 <figcaption>Photo DEA</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, KAN. – The Riley County Police Department arrested three individuals on drug-related charges following the execution of two search warrants on Tuesday, stemming from an ongoing investigation.Scott Marchand, 48, of Manhattan, was arrested at approximately 12:34 p.m. in the 3200 block of Fort Riley Blvd. Marchand is in the Riley County jail on a&nbsp; $156,000 bond on requested charges that include four counts of distributing or possessing with intent to distribute heroin/fentanyl within 1000 feet of a school, two counts of distribution of opiate/narcotic/certain stimulant/heroin within 1000 feet of a school, two counts of use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia, one count of criminal use of weapons, one count possession of an opiate/opium/narcotic or certain stimulant and one count of manufacture/plant/cultivate a controlled substance. Marchand was issued a total bond of $156,000 and remains confined in the Riley County Jail.Angeli Moragne, 39, of Ogden, was arrested at approximately 1:40 p.m. in the 2400 block of Walden Lane. Moragne is being held on a $25,000 bond on requested charges of distribution or possession with intent to distribute heroin/fentanyl within 1000 feet of a school and use/possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia.sDavid Labombarbe, 39, of Manhattan, was arrested at approximately 9:48 p.m. in the 1600 block of Woodcrest Drive. Labombarbe is being held on a&nbsp; $150,000 bond on requested charges of possession opiate/opium/narcotic or certain stimulant, two counts of distribute or possess with intent to distribute heroin/fentanyl within 1000 feet of a school, one count distribution of opiate/narcotic/certain stimulant/heroin within 1000 feet of a school, one of count of distribution of certain depressant withing 1000 feet of a school, one count of possession of substance in KSA 65-4105(h) [opiates], one count of use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia, one count of manufacture/plant/cultivate a controlled substance and one count of criminal use of weapons.&nbsp;